Author: Barbara Agnew

ON THIS DAY – 10 YEARS AGO

Club historian Mike McD writes: This was the first joint meeting of the SCRP-Q Committee with the newly formed QRC Committee. In attendance – Mike McDowall, John Howell, Stuart Mitchell, Ranald Mackay, Graham Leith, Stuart Ridge, Alan Meldrum, Peter Locke, with Billy Scott, Neil McPhail, Siobhan Johnson, and Denise Havard.

A very successful ‘Music to Rock your Boat 2’ was held on Saturday the 4th. We had an audience of 130, more than twice what we expected. Entertaining us, (and providing a big following of fans!), were the High School band ‘The Shenanigans’ thanks to their drummer, Jordan Harvey (next-door neighbour to Mike). Jordan has since gone on to make a successful career as a session drummer, singer/songwriter in America. He even had a guest appearance in one episode of ‘Neighbours’ two years ago. We also had ‘Stevenson’s Rockets’, a band of music students from Stevenson College, led by saxaphonist Bruce Whitehead. (Bruce, who is a freelance journalist in Queensferry, was studying there at the time.)

It was reported that we had had a visit from Margaret Smith MSP on 19th February (see photo below) and there was lots of good news – the trailer was on order and expected in a fortnight. John Watson had already converted four of the oars obtained from the Canal Society; six lengths of timber had been collected from Fife, and the boat cover was also on order. It was also agreed that we would buy a Rowing machine!!

All the arrangements were in place for the Launch and the Ceilidh, and Lord Hopetoun had agreed to become the Patron of the new Rowing Club. He wished to pay a visit to see the boat and meet the members. Further discussion took place on things that the Rowing Club would need to pursue – Election of Office Bearers; Club colours (the proposed logo had been accepted); Teams for the Regatta; Constitution, Operating rules, Subscriptions and procuring the Boat shed at Port Edgar.

Still lots to do! Next meeting 22 March.

Beth, on behalf of the committee, writes: Although Rowing seems a distant memory your Rowing Club has not forgotten you – we promise! 

With this in mind, and to celebrate the recent announcement of the highly anticipated Skiffie Worlds, we aim to put our collective active miles together and run/row/cycle/kayak/unicycle/walk/crawl/roll/sprint/hop/skip/jump (or anything else you see fit!) to Kortgene… For all those of you, like me, who need to brush up on your pronunciation hyperlink supplied .

All you have to do is add your distance travelled to this form:
Click here! (you might need to hold down Crtl too)

The only rules are that your miles travelled must be in the month of March and you cannot count any miles which were not propelled by you, e.g. no bus rides/car drives/train journeys. You can fill out the form as many times as you want, anyone in the QRC family can be involved and anyone in your household/bubble/friendship group/family can get involved too! 
We’ll keep you updated on how we get on and happy (virtual) travels.

Club historian and founder member Mike McD writes: Ten years ago today, a rowing club was born.

SCRP-Q held the Public Meeting ‘to determine whether there is sufficient support to set up a Rowing Club in Queensferry, and if so, to elect a committee and office-bearers.’

24 people attended, with apologies from 3. After a brief summary of the project to date, and thanks to the builders – John Watson and Malcolm Meikle, Mike McD introduced members of Boatie Blest from Cockenzie and Port Seton. They told us how their first boat, Boatie Rows, was funded and built, enhancing community spirit. Their Club now had 60 members.

The resolution to start a Rowing Club was proposed and unanimously agreed. It was suggested that the name should contain the word ‘Community’. After discussion, ‘Queensferry Rowing Club – A Community Project’ was agreed

The only office-bearer nomination was for Treasurer – Peter Locke. The following Committee were elected – Siobhan Johnson, Denise Havard, Alan Meldrum, Billy Scott, Neil McPhail and Graham Sutherland. It was agreed that all meeting attendees were ‘members’.

The dates for future events including the launch were reported as well as the six local Regattas that we had agreed to take part in.

The Rowing Club committee were thereafter invited to attend SCRP-Q committee meetings. The next to be on 7th March.

Club captain Dónal writes: I felt it would be remiss of me to let today go without putting out an email regarding the foundation of our Club. Thanks to Mike McDowall for posting the on-this-day emails, they have been very interesting.

With today being the Birthday of the Club it has been a shame that we haven’t been able to get the boats out on the water to have a proper celebration with a Row under the now three Bridges.

We should thank the founding members of the Club and the first Committee for getting the Club together and making sure that the Community were involved from the outset. On a personal level the Club gave me the opportunity to feel part of the Community shortly after I moved to Queensferry, for which I will be forever grateful.

The Club has given us the opportunity to travel the length and breadth of Scotland competing in many Regattas with varying degrees of success, this has also included three World Championships, one of which was overseas.  

The last ten years has seen the Club grow with members coming and going as the years progressed. Unfortunately we also lost some of the members and great characters of the Club. Founding member and first Vice Captain, Alan Meldrum, Andy Jarvis and John Gray, RIP.

We look forward to the next ten years of Rowing in our idyllic spot on the Forth and reacquainting ourselves with the Skiff Community throughout Scotland and beyond, of course the Next World Championships are in the Netherlands so that is something to mark in the diary.

The strength of the Club at present is testament to the members and their desire to see it succeed. We have a vast array of talent capable of promoting the Club and raising funds when necessary and for this we are very lucky.

Of course I couldn’t let this email go without mentioning that QRC shares its Birthday with a member of the Club, as it’s Sharon Homan-James’ Birthday today too. Perhaps next year we can have a joint celebration on the day.     

Happy Rowing everyone (Eventually)

Just a wee heads-up to those paying a visit to the site that Dónal’s Quarantunes 2.0 are collected here: Dónal’s Quarantunes 2

Of special note is number 30, Queensferry Regatta. This was written by Dónal himself, and someone has written the musical notation for him.